windows 10 (October 2018 update) (version 1809) deleted all my files

This Updte has been pulled while (as Microsoft stated) "they investigate isolated reports of users losing files."

Which means, one supposes, that there are users who have actually LOST files, not merely had them relocated by the Update.

(As happened in my case when folders that I used to be able to find HERE:

 are now over here:

That includes movies and television shows (as well as my collection of Old Time Radio Programs) (audio-video psychoses) 171 GB

Music (238 GB)

And, of course, my Library as I mentioned before.)

The Quick Links you see in both images above are current and added since this update.

Now, as others have mentioned, when I looked in the first location (where they had always been) and saw NOT these folders I was (as you may guess) somewhat concerned. But I soon found them by going into the alternate location and created the Quick Access Links before I could forget where my files now WERE.

Naturally, I assumed that it was a similar issue that was afflicting everyone else. Folders moved but not deleted, in other words. This is because the Update would have to TELL your computer to delete the files and, in that case, it would be telling ALL computers to do that in which case my folders would not have been there.

What I neglected to take into consideration was that there are different MAKES of computer and sometimes (because of issues with manufacturer tweaks and a new Windows O/S) all KINDS of weird things can happen. It would be interesting, therefore, to learn on WHICH manufacturers computers and laptops actual file and folder DELETION is occurring.

Mine is an HP Pavilion Desktop running Windows 10 Home Edition Version 1809 Build 17763.1

I do not have OneDrive installed. I do occasionally use it for storage but I go to the OneDrive website via my browser (Edge) when I want to upload any files there or access any of those that are stored there.

ZD Net has an article about the pulling of the Update and a link to a tool that has been known to help some people get back their missing files/folders.

I do not know how safe the tool may or may not be to run but ZD Net has been in business for FOREVER, basically (ZD stands for Ziff-Davis and they have been around since 1929) and I have always found them reliable. Of course, they were sold in 2000 to CNET and THEY have always had issues with downloads they offer containing PUPSies Galore so be careful if you decide to try out the tool or any other downloads,

With that, here is the live link: https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-halts-rollout-of-windows-10-october-2018-update-what-happens-next/

I like where that ZNET article says, "Because the problem appears to be associated with the data migration portion of Windows Setup, it's unlikely that it will affect you if you've already successfully upgraded to this feature update."

I guess I believe it. 1809 is working well for me, even OneDrive is working well. I've got a few new, repetitive errors in Event Viewer to be dealt with - but they seem not to affect the smooth running of 1809. Other Event Viewer errors seem to have gone away. Things seem quicker than they were in 1803 actually, & the new features look good.

I got this in Mail - but it doesn't show up in the thread...

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Well - OK, then - thanks for the information. I do quit theorizing & await an official MSFT explanation, which as you said might be a long wait. The saddest thing is that the files lost (& never backed up) will likely never be seen again. Very sad.

Good luck, & keep us informed.

“It took 4 hours to upgrade on the brand new Dell laptop.”

It was surprising.

I have done the Windows 10 October 2018 Update using downloaded ISO file for Windows 10 October 2018 Update for my colleague's Dell Latitude 7390 i5 / 8GB / 256GB SSD Laptop a couple days ago. It took about 30 minutes only.

Yesterday I have done the Windows 10 October 2018 Update for 50+ nos of desktop PCs including Dell Optiplex  9020 or 7040 and HP Z220. It took average 30 minutes or less per PC and shorter than 40 minutes for the version update 1803 and 90 minutes for the version update 1709 I did before. 

So far I have no issue.

Sorry for the loss of your VM file. Not only does it exceed the capacity of a normal OneDrive, but it breaks this rule...

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/sync-your-documents-pictures-and-desktop-folders-with-onedrive-d61a7930-a6fb-4b95-b28a-6552e77c3057

Sync your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders with OneDrive

"File exceeds the maximum file size: OneDrive can't sync files over 20 GB. Remove these files from the folder you want to protect and then try again."

Looks like 1809 set it as default to protect the contents of those folders. But the feature couldn't handle it when a rule was broken. And your VM file now swims with the fishes.

It sound like a Kafkaesque data proteciton racket, I never asked for OneDrive to begin with. But anyhow I am genuinely happy that they pulled the update and that prosperity won't be talking of the Microsoft great October Document Purge (MODP). If they did roll it out over 150 or so million clients with a high percentage of affected systems then the amount of lost work would be mind boggling. Its probably a lot more then the hours spend on building the pyramids and going to the moon put together. Pulling it certainly avoided some bankruptcies and might even prevented some suicides. 

I hope this worst case "near hit" will be study material for OS developers and will galvanized the patch testing processes.